traveling with my bwuhs

Quiet mornings at Orange Lake are good for the soul. I love to sleep in while on vacation, but there’s something special about waking up before everyone else and soaking in the peace and stillness of the morning. Our condo porch overlooks a tranquil pond — the perfect backdrop for a slow start to the day. It’s the calm before the chaos, if you will.

After a relaxed breakfast at the condo, we headed off for our Owner Update. (Pro tip: when they say “60 minutes,” take that with a grain of salt — ours lasted closer to two hours.) Still, we survived, walked out with $120 in resort cash, and set off for the rest of our day.

Our lazy-day goal was to check out the classic car show at Old Town in Kissimmee. We grabbed lunch at A&W, soaking in the nostalgic 50s diner vibe. The burgers and fries hit the spot — and of course, you can’t skip the root beer.

After lunch, we strolled the Old Town strip and made a stop at Black Market Minerals for a little gem mining. The boys loved sifting through the sand to uncover treasures, and while it didn’t quite rival the Chimney Rock Gem Mine, it was still a fun memory.

The car show didn’t disappoint — Hubs admired a pristine ’57 Chevy, and I fell a little in love with a bright red Firebird. One day…

The rest of the evening was low-key. We grabbed groceries at Publix (because a Publix sub is basically a Florida vacation essential), got the boys’ haircuts, enjoyed ice cream from the resort Marketplace, and ended the night watching Gamecocks football.

The next morning started with pastries from Publix — flaky, sweet perfection. If you’re not familiar with Publix, do yourself a favor and get familiar. Their deli serves Boar’s Head (and their own brand) cold cuts on subs that are incredible, and their bakery is top-tier. Their cakes (raspberry elegance = chef’s kiss) and pastries are can’t-miss vacation — or anytime really — treats.

After breakfast, we spent a few hours at the resort arcade — always a hit for our family — and then headed to the pool once the weather cleared. Hubs and I relaxed near the North Village Pool while the boys splashed around. We tried cocktails from the pool bar, but they were a little too sweet and strong (and these were singles!), so we dumped them.

image credit: traveling with my bwuhs

Dinner that evening was at one of our favorites — Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The cocktails there are always on point, so those definitely didn’t go to waste. The food was, as always, amazing. I was thrilled to see the kokonut rice on the buffet this time (it alternates with peanut rice, which is also delicious). Their chicken corn chowder is legendary — I could eat a vat of it, but managed to stop at one cup.

A fun new find was the roasted corn cheesecake. I know it sounds odd, but trust me — it was incredible. It tasted like classic cheesecake with a slightly buttery flavor and a caramel-covered popcorn garnish on top. Delish.

Boy1 is my adventurous eater — he’ll try just about anything that’s not spicy — so meals like this are a breeze. Boy2 is more selective, but Boma’s variety means there’s always something for everyone. If you’re sensitive to spice, be warned that most dishes are seasoned, but not necessarily hot.

No visit to Animal Kingdom Lodge would be complete without seeing the animals. I truly believe the Lodge is like a park all its own — so much to do, see, and experience without ever stepping into the actual theme park.

image credit: traveling with my bwuhs

What’s your favorite “must-do” resort or restaurant when you’re visiting the Orlando area? Have you ever stayed at Orange Lake or visited Animal Kingdom Lodge? I’d love to hear your favorite memories or recommendations in the comments!

❤ Jen